US-China relations focus of KU’s Seventh Annual Intelligence & National Security Colloquium

LAWRENCE — A conversation between former U.S. Secretary of Defense Robert Gates and longtime journalist with the Wall Street Journal Jerry Seib will open a University of Kansas conference that seeks to understand China’s long-term geopolitical objectives and how they affect U.S. national security.

The 2025 Intelligence & National Security Colloquium is April 30-May 1 on KU’s Lawrence campus.

“This event reflects KU’s ongoing commitment to fostering informed dialogue around global security issues and preparing the next generation of intelligence professionals,” said Mike Denning, assistant vice chancellor of National Defense Initiatives.

The colloquium begins at 7 p.m. April 30 at the Dole Institute of Politics with a fireside chat between Gates, a Kansas native who served as Secretary of Defense from 2006 to 2011, and Seib, a KU journalism alumnus and visiting fellow at the institute.

The colloquium continues May 1 at the Jayhawk Welcome Center beginning at 9 a.m. with a moderated keynote conversation between Gen. Robert Brown, former commander of all U.S. Army Forces Pacific, and Rear Admiral Mike Studeman, former director of intelligence for the U.S. Navy.

 “This year’s event will focus on a timely and thought-provoking theme rooted in ‘red team analysis,’ a method that challenges participants to adopt the perspective of a strategic competitor — in this case, the People’s Republic of China,” Denning said.

Registration is required for the May 1 program to reserve a complimentary lunch. Details of the itinerary and speakers are available on the conference website.

The colloquium is made possible through support from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (ONDI). KU is a designated member of ONDI’s Intelligence Community Center for Academic Excellence, a program established in 2004 to develop a diverse pipeline of professionals equipped with the technical, analytical and language skills needed to navigate complex 21st-century security challenges. 

The Kansas IC CAE consortium also includes Dodge City Community College, Garden City Community College, Seward County Community College and Kansas City Kansas Community College.

Colloquium sponsors include KU’s National Defense Initiatives, KU’s Center for East Asian Studies and the Command and General Staff College Foundation.